Psalm 143

Psa 143:1

SUPERSCRIPTION: "A PSALM OF DAVID". // with Psa 142, re David in the cave.

A prayer for mercy: There are times in the lives of every one of us when we need to cry to God for mercy. We find ourselves surrounded by either physical or spiritual enemies that try to take our lives or cause us to sin by tempting us. David's psalm here gives us guidelines in this endeavor: (1) He lifts up his hands to God, and asks Him to hear His cry for mercy. (2) He explains his position and why he needs the mercy of God. (3) He says how much he loves and needs God. (4) He pleads for an answer to his prayer by explaining that he desperately needs an answer, and that, as far as he is able, he trusts, loves, and hides himself with God, and -- finally, that he wants to do God's will. (5) He pleads that God, for His own sake, His righteousness, His reputation and His love would save him from his foes.

We are surrounded by temptations every day -- let us pray to God as David did. We know that he saved David and he will save us too. Pray for mercy today.

YOUR FAITHFULNESS: Always refs to God's covenants of promise.

Psa 143:2

DO NOT BRING YOUR SERVANT INTO JUDGMENT: The first phrase means, 'Do not enter into legal proceedings with your servant' (the same phrase occurs in Job 9:32; 14:3; Ecc 11:9; 12:14). God DOES enter into strict judgment with those who are NOT His true servants (Mat 5:26; 18:34) -- but not with those who are His believing and obedient servants (Mat 18:27). This is David's humble acknowledgment of being at fault (and his request for mercy) in his lapses of faith.

Since Jesus had committed no sin (John 8:46; 1Pe 2:22-25), it was not possible that he could be held bound by the bands of death (Acts 2:24). In his case, then, the judgment or condemnation upon all men -- leading to death (Rom 5:12) -- must of necessity give way to blessing and reward.

Similar language -- to the effect that all men are under "sin" -- occurs in Psa 51:5; 130:3; and is quoted by Paul in Rom 3:9,20,23; Gal 2:16. (Also see Job 4:17; 9:2; 14:4; 25:4; Ecc 7:20.)

FOR NO ONE LIVING IS RIGHTEOUS BEFORE YOU: In this phrase, the key word is "living": "No man LIVING can be justified (or made righteous)!" Even Jesus must die so as to destroy, completely and finally, the latent power of "sin" that dwelt within him. And so even the perfectly righteous man -- who never committed any sin -- could not be "justified" so long as he lived: his work was not finished until his sacrificial life was sealed by a sacrificial death.

Psa 143:3

HE... HE: Singular pronouns suggest Saul the pursuer.

DWELL IN DARKNESS: The language is appropriate to his refugee life in the Adullam cave (esp when it is remembered that caves were often sepulchres also) -- and more so to the early days of his wanderings, before others rallied to his cause.

Psa 143:4

MY SPIRIT GROWS FAINT WITHIN ME: (NT) Mar 14:33; Heb 4:15-5:8.

Psa 143:5

THE DAYS OF LONG AGO: Reminiscences of those times when God's hand was plainly visible in support and help for David: the incidents of the lion and the bear, and of the even more bestial Goliath.

(NT) God's Purpose in Christ had been written long beforehand in the Old Testament (Luk 24:25-27).

Psa 143:6

I SPREAD OUT MY HANDS: (NT) Uplifted hands in prayer, in Gethsemane; outstretched and impaled hands at the Crucifixion.

See Lesson, Selah.

Psa 143:7

FACE (of God): In Psalms, always ref God's presence in ark/tabernacle/temple: see VL, Psalms, God's face.

Psa 143:8

"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" (Psa 30:5).

Psa 143:10

TEACH ME TO DO YOUR WILL: "Not my will, but thine be done!"

Psa 143:12

MY ENEMIES... MY FOES: Philistines in Gath (1Sa 21); the retainers of Saul (1Sa 22); the men of Ziph (1Sa 23); Saul and his men (1Sa 24).